Window construction and control



Sept. 26, 1961 s. s. KENNY 3,001,250

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION AND CONTROL Filed July 17. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

A TTO/PNEVS 574NHOPE 5. KENNY Sept. 26, 1901 Filed July 17, 1959 S. S.KENNY WINDOW CONSTRUCTION AND CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SMNHOPES. KENNY ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 26, 1961 3,001,250 WINDOW CONSTRUCTIONAND CONTROL Stanhope S. Kenny, 1537 La Mesa Drive, Burlingame, Calif.Filed July 17, 1959, Ser. No. 827,834 4 Claims. (CI. 20-62) Thisinvention relates to windows of the jalousie type, and more particularlyto an improved control mechanism for such windows.

The jalousie window has recently found increasing favor with architects,contractors, and in the building industry in general. This type ofwindow employs a plurality of window sections or panes each of which isadapted to be swung or rotated about a horizontally or verticallyextending axis between open and closed positions. Although numeroustypes of control mechanisms have been employed with these windows, suchmechanisms may be broadly classified according to whether the windowsections are rotated about a central axis or are pivoted adjacent anend. In general, the rotary type control mechanism is to be preferred,primarily because of a greater ease of alinement of the individualsections of the window.

To date, control mechanisms of the rotary type have been subject to anumber of shortcomings. Chief among these is the necessity of employingexpensive gear or chain type operating mechanisms to provide the desiredrotary action. A further difficulty has been the need for an excessivenumber of parts in the operating mechanism, making the windowsuneconomical to manufacture.

The present invention is directed to a solution of these and additionalproblems, as will appear, and one object is to provide a controlmechanism for a jalousie window which operates effectively with aminimum number of working parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control mechanism ofsuch character which makes use of a slidable, rotary engagement betweenthe operating parts with consequent elimination of gears, chain drivesand like mechanisms of the prior art.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jalousie window andcontrol mechanism that is simply and inexpensively manufactured, andwhich will be durable and useful throughout a prolonged period of use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description of an exemplary embodiment, and from thedrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a window construction embodying theprinciples of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a detail view in section along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a like view along the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a View in vertical section showing the position of thecontrol mechanism when the sections of the window are in a closedposition;

FIGURE 5 is a like view showing the position of the control mechanismwhen the sections of the window are in an open position;

FIGURE 6 is a detail view in vertical section along the line 6-6 ofFIGURE 1 and showing a closed position of the window; and

FIGURE 7 is a like view showing the sections of the window in an openposition.

Generally stated, the present invention is directed to a jalousie windowincluding a plurality of window sections each having rotary end supportsreceived in side frames of the window. The rotary supports on a commonside of the window each carry crank means which are engageable with avertically extending bar. Preferably this operating bar is provided withflange means slidably and rotatably engaging extending ends of each ofsaid cranks so as to coordinate simultaneous rotary movements of thecranks and the individual window sections. Movements of the operatingbar are accomplished by an operating lever which is pivotally mounted onthe side frame in such fashion that one of its ends extends inwardlythrough an opening in the side frame into engagement with the bar. In apreferred embodiment, the inner end of this lever is likewise engaged inslidable rotatable fashion by flange means on the operating bar. Byvirtue of this construction, simple pivotal movements of the operatinglever, in the plane of the side frame, will be translated quickly andeasily into rotary movements of individual window sections. If desired,locking means can also be provided to lock the lever and the windowsections in any desired position of operation.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 14 indicates a jalousie window inaccordance with the invention including side frames 12 and windowsections 14. As illustrated, the side frames 12 can be substantiallychannel shaped and provided with recessed apertures 16 to receive rotarysupports 18 for the window sections. The mounting brackets 20 for thelatter can be rigidly attached to the rotary supports by any suitablemeans, for example, by welding at 22 (FIGURE 2). It will be noted thatthe mounting brackets 20 are constructed to permit a glass to glasscontact between adjacent window sections so as to insure a properweather seal without obstructing vision (FIGURE 6).

As illustrated in FIGURES 3 to 5, the rotary supports at one end of thewindow are provided with crank extensions 24. These crank extensionsoperatively engage and support a longitudinally extending bar 26, whichis received within a side frame 12. In the illustrated apparatus, thecrank extensions are relatively flat and have partially rounded andpartially flattened cam surfaces terminating in the apex portions 28 sothat in appearance the cranks generally resemble a heart shapedconfiguration. guided on the crank extensions 24 by means of flange-likeprojections 30 provided on either side thereof. As will be understood,longitudinal movement of the operating bar 26 will cause a slidingrotary movement of the crank means within the flanges 30, and a,consequent rotation of the window sections 14.

Operating movements of the bar 26 are accomplished by means of theoperating lever 32. In the illustrated apparatus, the operating leverincludes an outer handle portion 34 and an inner end 36 adapted to passinwardly through an opening in the side frame into a position ofengagement with the operating bar 26. The latter can be provided withflange means 38 similar to those previously described, and adapted tosliclably and rotatably receive the inner end 36 of the operating lever.The operating lever 32 can be pivotally mounted on the side frame 12 bymeans of the bracket 40 and pivot 42.

As clearly illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, pivotal movements of theoperating lever will result in longitudinal movements of the operatingbar 26, which in turn functions to rotate the window sections 14 in themanner previously described.

Since it is frequently desirable to lock the window in closed position,or the sections 14 at a particular angle of opening, I have found itdesirable to provide a device for thispurpose upon the operating leverand engageable with the mounting bracket 40. Thus, as illustrated, theoperating lever can be provided with a simple thumb lever 44 having awarped end 46 engageable in the slots 48 provided in the mountingbracket.

The operation of the apparatus just described can be summarized asfollows: Assuming a locked, closed position of the window, asillustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4,

The operating bar 26 is movably supported and the window is firstunlocked by disengaging the locking lever 4'4. This can be accomplishedby pivoting the lever so that the end 46 moves out of the slot 48 into aposition as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The operating lever 32 can now bepivoted to open the window, as indicated by the arrow 50 in FIGURE 5Pivoting of the operating lever causes the inner end 36' of the lever toslidably rotate within the flanges 33 and at the same time to urge theoperating bar in a downward direction as indicated by the arrow 52. Thisin turn causes the flanges 34)- to rotate the crank extension 24 in aclockwise direction and, simultaneously, the rotary supports 18 for thewindow section 14. Such movement of the cranks is illustrated in thesuccessive position of FIGURES 4 and 5, while the resulting movement ofthe window sections is illustrated in FiGURES 6 and 7. As the crankelements rotate downward their rounded sides facilitate sliding rotarymovements within the flanges 30. However, pivotal movements of thecranks beyond a desired degree are resisted by the apex portions 23. Ineffect, these apex portions provide surfaces on either side which act asstops tending to limit operating movements of the lever 32, User of theapparatusvcan therefore easily determine that he has reached a desiredfull open or full closed position.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention makespossible a combination jalousie window and control mechanism whichemploys a minimum of operating parts. Moreover, the parts employed areeasily constructed from inexpensive materials, and can be readilyassembled in a simple manufacturing process. The resulting windowconstruction, is rugged, durable, and operable to provide a full rotarymovement of the window sections with a minimum of eflfort.

I claim:

1. In a jalousie window, a plurality of elongated window sections,rotary supports on the ends of said sections, side frame members havingapertures to receive and support said rotary supports, crank meanssecured to each rotary support at a common end of said window sections,the extending ends of said crank means having partially rounded andpartially flattened cam surfaces converging to form the apex and sidesof a generally heart-shaped configuration, an operating bar extending ina direction parallel to said side frames and slidably mounted adjacentone of said frames, substantially planar flange means extendingoutwardly from said operating bar in a plane transverse to the slidablemovement of said operating bar, said flange means slidably and rotatablyreceiving the extending ends of said crank means when in contact withsaid rounded surface and resisting further rotation of'said crank meanswhen in contact with said flattened surface, an operating leverpivotally mounted on a side frame,

said operating lever having a rounded end protruding inwardly through anopening in said side frame, and means on said operating bar slidably androtatably engaging the rounded end of said operating lever, wherebypivotal movements of said operating lever produce rotary movements ofsaid jalousie window sections between extreme open and closed positionsdetermined by said flattened cam surfaces and planar flange means.

2. A Window as inclaim 1 wherein said operating lever includes a lockinglever and the pivotal mount for said operating lever has notchedrecesses adapted to receive said locking lever.

3. A window as inclaim 2 wherein said locking lever is mounted forpivotal movements in a plane perpendicular to the plane of saidoperating lever.

4. In a jalousie window, a plurality of elongated window sections,rotary supports on the ends of said sections, side frame members havingapertures to receive and support said rotary supports, crank meanssecured to each rotary support at a common end of said window sections,the extending ends of said crank means having partially rounded andpartially flattened cam surfaces converging to form the apex and sidesof a generally heart-shaped configuration, a substantially planaroperating bar extending in a direction parallel to said side frames andslidably mounted adjacent one of said frames, substantially planarflange means extending outwardly from said operating bar in a planetransverse to the slidable movement of said operating bar, said flangemeans slidably and rotatably receiving the extending ends ofsaid crankmeans when in contact with said rounded surface and resisting furtherrotation of said crank means whenin contact with said flattened surface,said operating bar being disposed betweensaid crank means and a sideframe member, an operating lever pivotally mounted on a side frame, saidoperating lever having a rounded end protruding inwardly through anopening in said side frame, and means on said operating bar slidably androtatably engaging the rounded end of said operating lever, wherebypivotal movements of said operating lever produce rotary movements ofsaid jalousie window sections between extreme open and closed positionsdetermined by said flattened cam surfaces and planar flange means;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS298,860 Keeran' May 20, 1884 2,732,595 Hartwell Ian. 31, 1956 FOREIGNPATENTS 107,112 Great Britain June 21, 1917

